Like the wrestling promotion it's based on, in serious need of a rewrite.
"I'm holding out for Wrestlemania X-8 on GameCube. Fingers crossed, people."
- a quote from my WWF RAW review
Well, I held out in the hopes that THQ's WWE offering on Nintendo's console would deliver what hasn't yet been delivered to wrestling fans with next-generation machines - a decent simulation style grappler. The promised inclusion of the WCW/ECW rosters, along with the NWO, topped off with a healthy dollop of No Mercy gameplay. I held out and hoped against hope. Alas, it was all for naught. While Wrestlemania X-8 has some good points and is a healthy foundation for future titles, the numerous deficiencies in this title mean that I won't be recommending it for anyone but the most diehard WWE fan this time around.
Let's get one thing straight, right off the bat - I'm not dropping Wrestlemania X-8's grade for not being No Mercy with updated graphics. The Smackdown style of arcade gameplay appeals to a large portion of the gaming population, and so does the No Mercy style. As it stands, however, Wrestlemania X-8 is a strange hybrid of both, satisfying neither.
Wrestlemania X-8 has options galore. Hell in a Cell, cage matches, TLC matches, hardcore, Royal Rumble and more - all present and accounted for. There are multiple arenas to fight in and wrestlers like Rhyno and Chris Benoit to unlock by earning all the titles available. Wrestlemania X-8 has an interesting new Battle of the Belts mode where you can earn generic title belts, then put them up against friends. Beat your buddy and take his belt, even unify the belts if you wish. A cool feature that definitely needs to be seen in more wrestling games. No story mode or backstage brawling to speak of, however.
The graphic design in Wrestlemania X-8 is cartoony, but still detailed. Lighting effects play shadows across the bodies of the wrestlers, and the arenas themselves look good. Pyro effects are rather weak, unfortunately, and the less said about the cut-out crowds, the better. Wrestlers don't actually wear their belts to the ring, though, and that's a big no-no. There is a notation under their name as they approach the ring - "Intercontinental Champion" or whatever - but the wrestler isn't actually wearing the belt.
Gameplay is a mixed bag. There is a promising reversal system in place, allowing you to reverse strikes, grapples, even finishers if timed correctly. While the implementation of timing these reversals seems somewhat haphazard, it's a great idea and when done correctly, is a lot of fun. The "punch punch punch" gameplay that WWF RAW on Xbox suffers from is alleviated here to a degree, allowing you to reach and grapple your opponent immediately. Attempt to grapple your opponent when he's out of range, and you leave yourself open to counterattack. There aren't many moves to do once you're within range, unfortunately. Locational damage is nowhere to be found, so you can work an opponent's leg the entire match and s/he still won't limp. The AI can be incredibly cheap - attacking you as you're getting up again and again. Not quite as maddening as WWF RAW was, but not far off either. Wrestling with multiple people in the ring can become a serious mish-mash, as the heirarchy of moves seems to change from match to match. Sometimes hitting someone during a suplex will interrupt it, other times, it won't. Throw an opponent into another wrestler as he's climbing the turnbuckle will knock him off, but if you throw him into another guy while he's coming through the ropes, nothing happens. No rhyme or reason, and that's frustrating.
It is abundantly clear that the latest batch of wrestling games have focused on speed to the expense of realism (and I'm well aware of the irony of discussing realism and wrestling, bear with me please). Pacing and storytelling have fallen by the wayside since THQ's previous N64 efforts, and the result is a far less enjoyable experience. When I pedigree the Rock, I don't expect him to kip up within 3 seconds like nothing happened. If I throw Ivory off the top of the Hell in a Cell, she shouldn't be standing at attention by the time I climb down. All we're subjected to is a bunch of wrestlers no-selling each other's moves - it's worse than the last days of WCW.
Sound effects range from passable to outright awful. Punches and kicks don't deliver the pain that you'd expect, weapon attacks included. Entrance theme music is somewhat tinny, even on my Dolby Surround - and this brings me to another peeve of mine in regards to Wrestlemania X-8. Many of the wrestlers are missing their entrance themes, and not just one or two. Booker T, the Hardys, Hulk Hogan and the NWO - all have been replaced with music that, frankly, does not work. Why, I have no idea, especially in the case of the Hardy Boys, whose music can be found in THQ's RAW on Xbox. Are only certain songs licensed? Why on one platform and not the other? Is it a matter of storage space? No one knows...and if they do, they're not telling.
Wrestlemania X-8 on Gamecube is, without question, an average game. The lack of moves, so-so CAW mode and other deficiencies certainly don't appeal to wrestling fans of either the Smackdown or AKI camps. Ever, the eternal optimist, I'll be waiting to see how Smackdown 4: Shut Your Mouth turns out, but in the meantime, No Mercy on the N64 will have to tide me over. It's a shame - there is a lot in Wrestlemania X-8 that is good, but the overall execution is where it falls down. If a Gamecube is the only console you have and you absolutely MUST have a wrestling game AND you can overlook the multitude of problems, give Wrestlemania X-8 a rental. If you're a purist, though, take my advice and wait until next year.
